Under the theme of “Artificial Intelligence and Optimization”, the Faculty of Computers, Informatics and Microelectronics of the Technical University of Moldova organized, between December 16 and 20, 2024, the 13th edition of the prestigious “Earth Rover” student competition. The event, dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the founding of UTM, brought together the brightest talents in the field of robotics and information technologies, reaffirming the university’s position as a leader in education and innovation.
“Earth Rover” represents a unique opportunity for UTM students to demonstrate their creativity, technical skills and teamwork. It is a competition that challenges and inspires! This year, eight teams representing the study programs “Robotics and Mechatronics”, “Computers and Networks”, “Automatics and Informatics”, “Microelectronics and Nanotechnologies”, “Applied Electronics” and “Information Technology” embarked on a complex challenge: designing and programming a mobile robot capable of following a predetermined route, demonstrating efficiency, functionality and maximum speed.
The FCIM laboratories and the Student Center for Technical Creativity “Hard & Soft” were the spaces where creativity and technology met. Each team received a homogeneous set of devices, transforming the available resources into ingenious solutions. The competition concluded with captivating presentations in front of a jury made up of experts and representatives of strategic partners: “AROBS Software Chișinău” SRL, “IAW Internationale Academie”, “Mechatronics Innovation Center” SRL and “BSW TECH” SRL.
The dedication and ingenuity of the participants were reflected in the final ranking, which designated the winners:
- 1 st Place: “White Phosphorus” team (Ilie ZLOI, Stanislav CIOLPAN, Vlad RUSU) – students of “Computers and Networks” and “Information Technology”.
- 2nd Place: “ForeverYoung ForeverDrunk” team (Alexei MEISOV, Nicolina ȚURCAN, Xenia MASLOVA) – students of “Robotics and Mechatronics”.
- 3rd Place: “Force_RM” team (Nicu DRUMEA, Andrei CLIMA, Vladislav CORCODEL) – students of “Robotics and Mechatronics”.
The event was successfully coordinated by the Dean of FCIM-UTM, Assoc. Prof., Dr. Dumitru CIORBĂ and his team: Viorica SUDACEVSCHI, Victor ABABII, Radu MELNIC, Viorel CĂRBUNE and Silvia MUNTEANU. We thank the strategic partners for their support and congratulate all the participants for their extraordinary work!
“Earth Rover 2024” is more than a competition – it is a lesson in courage, creativity and determination. The participants demonstrated that, in an increasingly technological world, skills in artificial intelligence and robotics are not only useful, but essential for professional success and personal development.
Congratulations to everyone and success in future technological challenges!
